Packaging container

ABSTRACT

The packaging container consists of a mechanically stabilizing case of paper, cardboard and/or metal with inserted sealing liner, which sealing liner is in the form of a plastic bubble with a neck part shaped from it and extending above the case. Both elements are manufactured separately and coupled together with the aid of an adapter cover. This is lockingly connected with the neck of the sealing liner and adapted to an opening in the case, into which it can lock. It is slipped over the sealing liner preform before the stretching and inflating of the liner and is secured against shifting by means of fixing cams.

This is a division of Ser. No. 326,169 filed Nov. 30, 1981, now U.S.Pat. No. 4,430,068.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a process for the preparation of a packagingcontainer with mechanically stabilizing case of paper, cardboard, metalor a combination thereof, and a sealing liner inserted into it, whichsealing liner is in the form of a plastic bubble with a shaped neck partshaped from it and extending above the case. In the process the sealingliner is blown, starting with a preform, the case is prepared in aseparate process, and the sealing liner is inserted into the case. Theinvention further concerns sealing liners, adapter covers and cases forcarrying out the process.

A packaging container is described in German Published Application DE-OSNo. 29 15 228, which consists essentially of a thin-walled inner bubblewith shaped opening or neck part containing the respective product,liquid or flowing, and an outer covering or case surrounding the bubbleor liner and stabilizing its shape. The case may also be made of afolding carton, for example. The packaging container is to be formed orprepared by quantitive and qualitative adjustment of the packagingmaterials utilized so that an economically especially favorable finalproduct is obtained for respective volume ranges, which can, asrequired, protect food, be resistant to chemicals, highly gas tight,require little space for storage when empty, be manufactured from theleast amount of raw materials, easy to fold after use, exceptionallygood to decorate and/or to close in any desired manner. The assemblingof case and linear for the completion of the package, however, posesproblems.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is the development of a process forthe manufacture of a packaging container consisting of a mechanicallystabilizing case of paper, cardboard, metal, plastic or a combinationthereof and a sealing liner inserted therein in the form of a hollow,thin-walled plastic extension with a neck part integrally attached tosaid plastic extension and adapted to extend above said case, comprisingthe steps of inserting said plastic extension with a neck partintegrally attached thereto into an adapter cover adapted to cover anopening in said stabilizing case and having first means to cooperatewith means in said neck part to both frictionally seal with said neckpart and prevent movement in a circumferential direction around saidneck part, and second means adapted to fasten said adapter cover to saidstabilizing case, assembling a precut blank into a case adapted toenclose said plastic extension, said case having an opening therein andmeans to receive and permanently clasp said adapter cover second means,inserting said plastic extension with said adapter cover into said casewhereby said means to receive and permanently clasp, receives andpermanently clasps said second means, and recovering an integralpackaging container consisting of a stabilizing case with cover having aplastic extension therein with an integrally attached neck extendingabove the cover.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent asthe description thereof proceeds.

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a manufacturing and assembly flow diagram for theproduction of the package container of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a non expanded plastic preform with a neck part integrallyattached thereto, partly cut away.

FIG. 3 shows an adapter cover in cross section.

FIG. 4 shows the adapter partially of FIG. 3 from above.

FIG. 5 shows the adapter cover of FIG. 3 from below.

FIG. 6 shows the top of one embodiment of a stabilizing case precutblank.

FIG. 7 shows the top of a second embodiment of a stabilizing case precutblank.

FIG. 8 shows the top of a third embodiment of a stabilizing case precutblank.

FIG. 9 shows the liner with adapter cover with insertion mandrel thereinabout to be inserted into a stabilizer case, both partly cut away.

FIG. 10 shows the liner with adapter cover inserted into a stabilizercase, said insertion mandrel inserted therein to its fullest extent,partially cut away.

FIG. 11 shows the completed packaging container assembly, partly cutaway.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the conceiving of a process for themanufacture of the packaging container with a mechanically stabilizingcase and separately produced, sealing liner by which the individualparts of the packaging can be manufactured on known equipment, and theassembling of these individual parts can be integrated into theproduction process at low cost. The solution according to the inventionconsists of the coupling of the case and the liner with the aid of anadapter cover connected to the liner and adapted to seal the lining tobe inserted into an opening of the case.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for themanufacture of a packaging container consisting of a mechanicallystabilizing case of paper, cardboard, metal, plastic or a combinationthereof and a sealing liner inserted therein in the form of a hollow,thin-walled plastic extension with a neck part integrally attached tosaid plastic extension and adapted to extend above said case, comprisingthe steps of inserting said plastic extension with a neck partintegrally attached thereto into an adapter cover adapted to cover anopening in said stabilizing case and having first means to cooperatewith means in said neck part to both frictionally seal with said neckpart and prevent movement in a circumferential direction around saidneck part, and second means adapted to fasten said adapter cover to saidstabilizing case, assembling a precut blank into a case adapted toenclose said plastic extension, said case having an opening therein andmeans to receive and permanently clasp said adapter cover second means,inserting said plastic extension with said adapter cover into said casewhereby said means to receive and permanently clasp, receives andpermanently clasps said second means, and recovering in integralpackaging container consisting of a stabilizing case with cover having aplastic extension therein with an integrally attached neck extendingabove the cover.

The adapter cover used according to the invention is a "cover" in thegeneral sense of the word, that is, the adapter cover can represent anyclosure in the top, in the wall or in the bottom of the case. Accordingto the invention, the adapter cover for the connecting of the plasticbubble or liner to the case, is slipped over the preform and fixedthereto in a position secure against twisting in the circumferentialdirection. Then the preform with attached adapter cover is reshaped,particularly by warming and inflation. The reshaping of the preform inthe stretching and inflating process also secures the adapter cover inthe axial direction of the bubble or liner produced from the preform,before and after the insertion of the assembly into the case. Thismethod results in a tight connection between adapter cover and linerthat cannot be undone. The adapter cover should be formed advantageouslyso that a secure connection is formed with the case, which can be brokenonly by the destruction of the package, by simple insertion in theopening of the case, for example, of a preglued folding carton, which iscorrespondingly shaped at its opening.

For a relatively simple assembling of lines and adapter cover on the onehand, and outer case on the other, it is of special importance withinthe scope of the process according to the invention that the adaptercover, which is essential for the assembling, is already attached to theliner before the stretching and inflating of the preform, bypreassembling as one building element consisting of preform and adaptercover, which is to be formed into the liner already on the stretchingand inflating machine. This method eliminates an otherwise difficult tomanage manipulation with the finished liner that is unstable withrespect to shape, on the one hand, and the adapter cover or a similarbuilding element, on the other hand.

The invention also concerns an assembly for the execution of the processwhich is characterized by fixing cams formed on the neck of the preformwith a view toward automatic engaging with fixing cams on the adaptercover, for the fastening of the adapter cover relative to the preform inthe circumferential direction. Further, the invention concerns means ofattachment at the adapter cover for fastening on the case as well asfixing cams shaped at the edge of an opening in the cover for anengaging of fixing cam sockets on the liner or the preform, for thefastening of the cover in the circumferential direction. Finally, theinvention concerns a case with means for the engaging of the adaptercover at the edge of the circumference of an opening in the caseintended for the insertion of the liner and to be closed with the cover.

Additional details of the invention are explained with the drawings.

FIG. 1 a manufacturing and assembly scheme;

FIG. 2 a preform partly cut away;

FIG. 3 an adapter cover, cutaway drawing;

FIG. 4 the adapter cover of FIG. 3 from above;

FIG. 5 the adapter cover of FIG. 3 from below;

FIGS. 6 to 8 different types of folding cartons; and

FIGS. 9 to 11 process steps in the assembly of the formed liner/adaptercover with a folding carton.

The invention is described in part with the example of folding cartonsin the following text. However, the meaning can be applied withoutdifficulty to the use of other cases, for example, a wrapped tube withflanged edge, a metal container with respective top-cover shape, adrum-like container and receptacles of similar type.

In the example of the manufacturing and assembly scheme of FIG. 1,according to the invention, the preform is produced at station 1 and theadapter at station 2. At station 3, the preform is warmed. At station 4,the adapter cover from station 2 is advanced and slipped over the warmedpreform from station 3. At station 5, the preform is reshaped into thebubble liner. At station 6, the completed bubble is deflated and atstation 7, the deflated bubble or liner, which is preassembled with theadapter cover, is advanced into the final assembly line for furtherwork.

In a parallel running production line, the folding carton is stamped outat station 8. At station 9, the folding carton is turned into a cartontube. At station 10, the folding carton bottom is glued and at station11, the folding carton is advanced for further work in the finalassembly line. In the latter, the liner with adapter cover is introducedat station 12, where it is placed on a spindle that corresponds inlength approximately to the stretched length of the liner. The spindlewith liner then swings around at station 13 into a feeding direction.The folding carton is then slipped, centered over liner and spindle atstation 14, until the adapter cover engages with the folding carton.Finally, the assembled package is removed from the spindle at station15, the package can be advanced at station 16 into the filling equipmentand the pickup spindle swings back at station 17 to return into thefeeding station 12.

Due to the fact that, according to the invention, an adapter coveradapted to an opening in the case is fixed to the preform for thefashioning of the liner before inflating, the production of the package,including the assembling and insertion of liner and case, can beintegrated into an automatic assembling process.

A preform suitable for the execution of the process according to theinvention is shown in FIG. 2 partly cut away, and designated as 18 inits entirety. Fixing cams 19 ending in points 20, given as example, areprovided at the neck 43 of the preform 18. These cams 19 serve for theradial fixing or for the fixing of the adapter cover 22 (see FIGS. 3 to5) against movement in the circumferential direction. The points 20,together with the radii 21 joining them, provide for an automaticengaging of the fixing cam socket 30 around the opening 28 of theadapter cover 22.

Such an adapter cover 22 is shown as cutaway drawing, given as anexample, in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows the same adapter cover viewed fromabove, and in FIG. 5, viewed from below. This adapter cover 22 has alateral edge 23 that is extending downward, which, depending on theplacing of the folding carton or in dependence on the shaping of thefolding carton (see FIGS. 6 to 8), is to be arranged either enclosing,three-sided or extending on two opposing sides. An insertion slope 24 isprovided on the inside of lateral edge 23. Each side of the lateral edge23 is provided with at least one holding cam 25, which has a recessedcut 26 as well as a slanted guiding point 27.

According to the invention, a circular cut-out 28, which can also have adifferent shape, such as polygonal, oval, and is enclosed by a band 29,is provided in the adapter cover 22. At the inner periphery of band 29,or at the outer periphery of cut-out 28, there are fixing cam sockets 30adapted to receive the fixing cams 19 formed by extensions 44 whichextend downwardly as shown in FIG. 3. The fixing cam sockets 30 extendthrough radii 21 into points 20, corresponding to the fixing cams 19 ofthe preform 18. The points of the preform 18 are pointing exactly in thedirection opposite to those in the adapter cover 22.

On the upper side of the adapter cover 22 is an enclosing edge 31, whichforms a sort of catch basin 32 for drops in the finished state. Thisprevents, after use and reclosing of the package with a measuring capthreaded to fit on neck 43 by the consumer, the spilling of a remainderof the product out of the measuring cap and over the enclosing edge 31onto the case.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the upper part of a stamped out foldingcarton for the production of a square folding carton, while in FIG. 7,the same is shown for a rectangular folding carton with centrallylocated filling opening, and in FIG. 8, for a rectangular folding cartonwith the filling opening located at the side. The alternate stamped outfolding cartons shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 have, depending on the desiredlocation of the adapter cover 22 and thus of the filling opening of theliner or bubble on the folding carton or in dependence on the shape ofthe folding carton at least two profile tabs 33 at the top side. Eachprofile tab 33 extends conically, starting from a slightly creasedfolding line 34, on either side, with narrowing edges 35, to form tabend 36.

Preferred is the presence of an approximately semicircular extension ortongue 37 in the center of tab end 36, which has a slit 38 in thedirection of the line of the tab end 36 from the outside of the carton,so that tongues 37 are easy to tilt inward, or tilt inward bythemselves, when the carton is assembled in the folded tube form. Withthis or a similar arrangement and a corresponding construction, tongues37 are particularly advantageous for the simple performance of theprocess for the assembling of liner, adapter cover and case or foldingcarton according to the invention.

Instead of the models shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, other folding cartons canbe used that allow the engaging of an adapter cover, such as by gluing acardboard strip into the upper area of the stamped out folding carton,behind the lower end of which the holding cams engage, or by arrangingcut-outs in the stamped out carton or in the cardboard strip, into whichthe holding cams can lock.

The assembling of the combination of liner/adapter cover with thefolding carton according to FIG. 7 is shown schematically in theposition shortly before the insertion of the liner into the carton in apartial cutaway drawing in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 shows the assembling afterthe insertion of the liner, shortly before the snapping in of theadapter cover in a partial cutaway drawing. Finally, FIG. 11 shows thecompleted package assembled by the process according to the invention ina partial cutaway drawing.

In FIG. 9, the preassembled adapter cover and liner are located, as unit39, on the pickup spindle 40, and the folding carton with top-side tabs41 glued according to FIG. 7, is positioned with its filling openingexactly over the center of the pickup spindle. The profile tabs 33 areslightly sloped inward with tongues 37 at an angle. In the conditionaccording to FIG. 10, the inserted liner unit 39 has pressed the profiletabs 33 into the inside of the carton. The holding cam 25 now dippinginto the folding carton give slightly toward the inside and allow thefolding carton wall 42 with the profile tabs 33 bent over inward to slipbetween lateral edge 23 and the holding cams 25. Finally, FIG. 11 showsthe condition of the package after the completion of the processaccording to the invention. The folding carton wall 42 is squeezedbetween lateral edge 23 and the holding cams 25 with its folded-overprofile tabs 33. The holding cams 25 have returned to their originalposition, because the recessed cut was able to lock behind the profiletab end 36.

List of Reference Numbers

1. preform production line

2. adapter production line

3. preform-warming station

4. adapter cover-feeding station

5. preform-reshaping station

6. deflating the bubble station

7. final station, stretching and inflating machine

8. stamping out of the folding carton station

9. folding carton tubing forming station

10. gluing of folding carton bottom and top tabs station

11. final station, folding carton manufacture

12. feeding station, final assembly

13. swinging around of spindle

14. advance of folding carton

15. removal of folding carton

16. final station, assembly

17. raising spindle station

18. preform

19. fixing cams

20. points

21. radii

22. adapter cover

23. lateral edge

24. insertion slope

25. holding cams

26. recessed cut-out

27. sloped point for insertion

28. cut-out

29. band

30. fixing cam socket

31. top edge

32. catch basin for drops

33. profile tabs

34. folding line

35. side edges

36. tab ends

37. tongue

38. crease

39. unit

40. pickup spindle

41. top tabs

42. folding carton wall

43. neck

44. extension forming fixing cam socket

The preceding specific embodiments are illustrative of the practice ofthe invention. It is to be understood, however, that other expedientsknown to those skilled in the art or disclosed herein, may be employedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

We claim:
 1. A mechanically stabilized case of paper, cardboard, metal,plastic or a combination thereof, said case having an opening thereincontaining a combination adapter cover and sealing liner comprising ahollow thin-walled plastic extension with a neck part integrallyattached thereto, having fixing cams extending downwardly from said neckpart and engaged with corresponding socket means of an adapter coveradapted to cover an opening, said adapter cover having first meansextending downwardly to form socket means engaging said fixing cams,whereby rotation in a circumferential direction is prevented and secondmeans adapted to automatically engage with a lip, and means comprising alip receiving and permanently clasping said second means adapted toautomatically engage with a lip.